How It All Goes Down
August 23, 1992
- Charlie has been in the hospital for the last two months. He got there after his dad found him watching TV naked in a weird trance.
- The breakdown happened when Charlie finally realized that his Aunt Helen had been molesting him every Saturday when they would watch TV together.
- His family comes together to support and help him. Even distant relatives write letters and send flowers.
- It also seems to help when Mary Elizabeth and the rest of the gang visit him in the hospital. All her talking makes things seem normal again. Who knew being a chatterbox could be so helpful?
- For a few pages, Charlie says he forgives his Aunt Helen, and he ruminates on how important small things in life are—like eating French fries with his mother and just being with family.
- Sam and Patrick take Charlie through the "infinite" tunnel one more time.
- The main message Charlie wants to get across is that he wants everyone else to be happy.
- As for himself, well, at least he's not scared of starting sophomore year of high school. Hey, maybe he'll even participate!
- He tells his reader to believe that things are good for him, "and even when they're not, they will be soon" (Epilogue.23).
- Then he says that he will believe the same thing about his reader.
- And, for the last time, he signs off. "Love always, Charlie" (Epilogue.25).